Ortho attributes the strength of Riddle’s magic power partially to his “keen intelligence that lets him immediately discern my role and employ an optimal approach for neutralizing (Ortho’s) threat.”
Riddle says, “I receive full marks on all my tests, so nothing distinguishes any one subject above another when it comes to grades,” but if he were to pick a “best subject, it would be practical spells.
Deuce says that Riddle is “at the top of the class in both scholarship and sorcery, and all while playing by the rules,” and Trey, Jamil, Ruggie, Azul and Malleus all comment on Riddle being the top student of the second year.
When Ace expresses doubt that Riddle gets a perfect score on his every exam Riddle asks, “You think I managed to stoop so low as to violate the rules for my impeccable record?,” and Ace responds, “You’re about the last person who’d do something like that. But with all the studying you do, it’s no wonder you don’t know what’s going on in the real world.”
When asked why he did not skip any grades despite his academic achievements Riddle explains that it is because “Grade-skipping isn’t really done in the Queendom of Roses” and his parents might not have seen much point in it as you have to be at least 24 to get a medical license” where he is from.
During the Wish Upon a Star event Riddle’s wish is “for Heartslabyul to soundly crush the other dorms with our scores on the next exams.”
Trey asks, “You’re wishing for all of us to get good grades, though? Not just yourself?,” and Riddle responds, “It’s the least a housewarden can do. Besides, I hardly need it for MY grades. I’ll take the top spot with or without some silly wish.”
In a vignette Riddle explains to Azul that he does not need to check an exam results ranking because “What would be the point, when the results are always the same?” Azul responds, “When you earn perfect scores in every subject, you’re a shoo in for first. I thought you may have slipped for once, but I see you aren’t one to be underestimated.”
Riddle says that he struggled with a question regarding the culture of the Land of Scalding Sands, as, “just three days before the exam a paper was published citing new discoveries to propose a wholesale reevaluation of the kingdom’s history. I assumed not touching upon this interpretation would mean a deduction in points,” and Azul reveals that, as a result of Riddle (and only Riddle) including that information on his exam, the faculty held a meeting that ended in the rest of the student body having points deducted.
In Tartarus Riddle insists on protecting Azul from danger and Azul responds, “Leave it to the star student to safeguard his far less capable peer.” Riddle tells hm to “quit it with the sarcasm” but Azul responds, “But it’s true. After all, l’ve never once scored higher than you on anything in our entire time at school.”
Riddle is surprised to learn that Azul had been trying to beat his grades (“The thought never crossed my mind before”) which Azul takes as an insult, asking if he is not a worthy rival. Riddle explains that Azul is simply involved in too many things at once to devote himself full to his studies, saying, “l’ve devoted all my time to academics and magic for as long as I can remember. And you expect to outscore me? That, as you say, is quite the insult.”
Riddle says that it is commendable to aim for first place and Azul might earn the top spot if he were to focus solely on academics, but “I suppose we’d both be in the top spot, though.”
Th two discover a fundamental difference in the way they approach exams during their descent into Tartarus, with Azul saying, “When trying to score well on a test, it’s more efficient to look over the whole thing and start with the problems that are worth the most points,” while Riddle responds, “In the time you spend choosing the problems, you could’ve just solved the first one and had more time for the rest.”
Azul is surprised that Riddle always starts with the first question and Riddle says, “Of course. I get perfect marks no matter where I start.”
When the characters run the risk of being trapped in Halloweentown for a full year in the first NBC event Riddle declares, “There’s an even bigger issue. If we spent a year out of school, we’d absolutely be held back!” (Jamil: “None of you are worried about what ACTUALLY matters here!”), and Crowley successfully convinces Riddle and the other students to join in the brainstorming for the Fairy Gala event by threatening to hold back the entire student body back a year (Riddle: “PREPOSTEROUS! Me?! Held back a year?!”).
Riddle mentions studying the Land of Dawning National Museum of Art’s exhibits, Fleur City, and the Queen of Hearts’ laws, and takes offense at Skully referring to him as “uneducated.”
After repeatedly refusing Kalim’s invitations to a banquet, Kalim manages to convince him to attend by offering him a ride on his magic carpet. Riddle responds, “the experience could prove valuable for my own study of flight.”
Riddle mentions studying at a summer camp at his mother’s suggestion, and studying how log cabins are made in preparation.
In Riddle’s dream of Book 7, however, he declares that he hates school and studying, as, “If you spend all your time behind a desk, all the fun things to do in the world will pass you by.
Riddle says, “A flexible mind is just as important as a well-studied one. I relish moments when I can make practical use of the knowledge l’ve accumulated,” and we have seen several examples of Riddle reciting information that was possibly from his studies: he explains transformation potions and the legal restrictions on treating the injuries of those under their effects, explains a schlieren effect they see in Tartarus, is familiar with relations between the Sunshine Lands and the Coral Sea, and explains the rules of Beach Flags despite having never played before.
In a rare moment of finding common ground with Idia, Riddle says, “Experiencing something for yourself to deepen your knowledge of it is something I understand very well.”
During Book 7 Riddle insists that Idia use his “common sense” and Idia counters, “Common sense? You not only memorized but also actively live by 810 nonsense rules. You’re Riddle Rosehearts, the maddest manual maniac in all of Night Raven College. And you’re talking to me about COMMON SENSE?”
During the NBC event he offers to help Shock “reexamine the definition of a ball,” and says, “Let’s start by reviewing their history. There are many academic opinions on their exact origins, but first and foremost…” (Jamil: “That’s where you’re starting?!”)
Riddle retorts, “You refer to those rules as nonsense?! They’re the embodiment of my dorm’s law and order! If you insult them, I’ll have your head!,” and Idia responds, “There you go, straight from zero to beheading, lawl. You ought to know that leap in logic is irrational. Use your common sense.”
We see another example of Riddle’s unique concept of common sense during Book 6 when he insists on defending Azul from phantoms, to Azul’s irritation.
Riddle explains that he is not actually protecting Azul, he is protecting the rules, as performing first-aid on individuals operating under the effects of transformation potions is illegal without a specialist license: “Which means that if you got injured here, I would risk running afoul of the law. And that must be avoided at all costs!”
Azul begins laughing aloud and calls Riddle “eccentric” (Riddle: “| am not! It’s every citizen’s duty to follow the law!”), saying, “Your absurd adherence to the rules isn’t intuitive to most other people.” (Riddle: “It’s not absurd! It’s literally the law!”)
We hear a story from Jade about a time in his first year when Riddle spent six hours running around a table in Octavinelle to dry himself off after being caught in the rain in accordance with a Queen of Hearts rule that states, “When you get soaking wet, you must dry off with a run in the ocean.”
Riddle is not pleased by Jade revealing his folly to other students, but it is not the running around a table that he finds embarrassing. Riddle exclaims, “I still can’t believe what a fool I was…I completely failed to prepare for the rain!” (Ruggie and Ortho: “That’s what you’re embarrassed about?!”)
Riddle explains, “I thought I was set just because I memorized all the rules. The HUBRIS of it all…but I’ll never make THAT mistake again. Now I carry a folding umbrella wherever I go! That way I never have to worry about getting wet!”
(Jade: “What an incredible mindset you have, Riddle.”)
Riddle says that the Queen of Hearts’ “memory must have been a veritable beartrap,” while Ortho says, “Riddle can recall his dorm’s rules with perfect accuracy. Does he have a memory card installed?”
Riddle says “There are 810 rules in all and, as housewarden, I can of course recite each and every one of them” (his tsum seems to have them memorized as well).
Riddle memorizes his recipe for Master Chef, Malleus comments on Riddle memorizing “known folktale in order to be able to answer any question posed to him,” and Riddle becomes angry with Cater for failing to memorize “a simple 300-page textbook,” saying, “Don’t waste time fretting over details. Just memorize the entire thing!”
During the Lantern event Riddle explains the library’s unique security system and explains the book checkout procedure, which he possibly memorized from an overview given during orientation.
After Malleus explains the lyrics to “Wish Resound,” the song that the group sings during Glorious Masquerade, Riddle says, “I memorized them, but only as words on paper. I hadn’t put any thought into the emotions and context surrounding them.”
In Book 7 Idia gives Riddle at least four “behemoth books” and his paper on technnomancy from the culture festival to memorize in under three minutes, which Riddle declares impossible. After an argument Riddle accepts the challenge to memorize all the manuals he has been provided in under two minutes.
While Riddle is at the top of his class there seem to be areas in which he does not excel as much as others, with Azul saying, “Riddle’s always been better at written exams than applied ones.”
Riddle himself admits that he does not have the time “to indulge in fictional tales that don’t come up on tests” and is “in unfamiliar territory when it comes to leisure or recreation.”
Riddle plays a video game for the first time in Book 6, loses, and Azul observes, “So there IS something you’re bad at.”
Floyd makes a similar comment during the Stitch event after Floyd talks about colors looking different underwater (“Oh, of course. Water absorbs and diffracts light. I can’t believe I didn’t remember that”), saying, “You actually forgot something? Now there’s somethin’ you don’t see every day.” (Riddle: “It’s only natural I wouldn’t be as knowledgeable about sea life as merfolk.”)
Malleus is not particularly impressed with Riddle’s cooking during the Master Chef event, saying, “I was prepared to be blown away by a masterful display of technique. But the flavor and plating are both entirely pedestrian. Perhaps I expected too much.” (Riddle: “Thank you for your honest feedback.”)
Riddle says that while he does not have any particular aversion to drawing, he struggled with his first time creating an abstract painting.
After learning that Idia’s best subject is summoning Riddle says, “A challenging arena of magic, requiring both breadth of knowledge and ability to quickly and accurately execute complicated procedures. Most students struggle with it…including some of us in Heartslabyul,” and saying he would love to hear about Idia’s methods, so it is possible that he does not particularly excel at summoning, if he was including himself.
Riddle says he likes mixing chemicals as, unlike cooking, “all components must be added in precise amounts” (Ruggie: “Tell Riddle to add a smidge and he dumps in spoonful after spoonful. What is his deal?”), and he seems to have confidence in his potion-making abilities: when Silver comments on how they will need to gather ingredients again if they fail at a potion during Vargas Camp Riddle asks, “Who do you take me for?,” and seems to singlehandedly craft the potion that completes their challenge.
Riddle mentions witch hazel and hen bane being used in potionology and alchemy and says that he is “quite familiar” with nightshade, which he cultivates in the botanical garden.
When Jack, Kalim and Deuce are all wary of their potio-making task of the Lantern Event Riddle says, “Can’t you people do anything? Simply follow the instructions in the textbook, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.”
While mixing his own potion for hair growth Riddle seems quite focused, with Deuce yelling from off screen, “Housewarden! Blink!”
Riddle’s is ultimately the only potion brewed to perfection, earning him praise from Crewel.
Kalim has a voice line of, “If you’re looking for a book, ask Riddle. He’ll immediately tell you what shelf and row it’s on,” and we see Riddle tell Deuce where to find books about magical history.
Riddle mentions finishing required reading for a class and checking out judicial textbooks, which he seems to be reading according to shelving order, saying, “I’m done with the books on this shelf, so these two should be next.”
Floyd talks about borrowing a book from Riddle for an assignment without asking him by leaving an “IOU” in its place (Ruggie: “You know a guy that strait-laced wouldn’t sub-loan library property to somebody else in a million years”). Jade refuses to return the book to Riddle on Floyd’s behalf, saying, When Riddle saw that IOU written on a torn-off sheet of loose-leaf paper, the look on his face made me shudder.”
When Kalim and Deuce agree that “books without illustrations hard to read” and “It’d be so much easier to follow if they had a few drawings,” Riddle does not look pleased.
When the Lantern Group struggles to escape from the locked library during the event Riddle declares, “this library is the brains of Night Raven College. It houses a great many valuable books. Forever losing access to them would be a loss for the whole world!”
Riddle also has a voice line of, “One mustn’t be satisfied with only book learning.”
Riddle mentions reading about northern sea whirlpools in textbooks, reading history books, reference books, and medical texts, and volunteers to select literature to suit the reading levels of younger students.
Riddle says, “l’ve never had much interest in watching or reading escapist fare. Ah, but I have read a great many autobiographies. By the time I was your age, Ortho, I was already reading medical dictionaries,” and that, while he may not be up-to-date on popular culture, he has “read all the classics that are foundational for a literary education.”
He also mentions reading encyclopedias, reading about Fleur City, reading a manual on setting tables, and about “appropriate jokes to tell at tea parties” in an etiquette book.
Riddle invites Trey to a book fair to help find “some essential reading material” for Heartslabyul’s first years: an illustrated etiquette manual, “Something I could read to our newest hand of card soldiers, to show them what true class should look like.”
In his dream of Book 7 Riddle says, “I don’t want to read a single page out of some boring book with no illustrations.” When Sebek suggests books that do require illustrations to be enjoyed Riddle responds, “Even so, I’m perfectly fine not reading at all! After all, I have but to ask, and Dad will pen a story for me on the spot and read it out to me. A wonderful, wild, whimsical adventure where I’m the protagonist! Dad’s always in the study, and I can go see him any time I want to hear a story. Why would I ever want to be subjected to a school schedule, or be forced to read boring books? That’s just ridiculous.”
Towards the end of Book 7 Riddle receives a “Spellforge User’s Manual,” Technomantic Engineering for Dummies,” “Prompts and Basic Spellscripts,” an administrator’s guide and a troubleshooting guide from Idia, to memorize in three minutes.
After Malleus’ defeat Riddle says that he has been to the school library to find the technomantic engineering manuals that Idia provided him but, while there were similar books, “they were all less detailed than the ones from Idia’s dream. Their explanations were more vaguely written. The books Idia had were neatly indexed so I could jump immediately to what I wanted to read. The text was clear and concise, with no ambiguity. They were quite well-written. WHY didn’t I think to note the authors?!”
Riddle says he wishes to ask Idia for more details about the manuals he read, but Cater and Trey guess that the manuals do not physically exist: “Riddle might be looking for something Idia created from his own imagination.” Cater says, “If Riddle learned the truth, I bet he’d corner Idia and force him to write those books immediately…”
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 